RAILROAD ACCIDENT REPORT. DERAILMENT OF AN AMTRACK TRAIN ON THE TRACKS OF THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE RAILWAY COMPANY AT MELVERN, KANSAS, JULY 5, 1974
The report describes and analyzes a derailment of an Amtrak passenger train which occurred as the train was moving eastward at a speed of about 77 mph. The derailment occurred on a trailing point turnout which connected the southerly main track with a siding. The rear six cars turned over as they slid down a bank. Fifteen employees and 87 passengers were injured as a result of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the broken closure rail of the turnout leading from the south main track to the siding. The insufficient strength of the track bolt and the apparent stressed condition of the nail contributed to the cause of the broken rail.
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Corporate Authors:
National Transportation Safety Board
490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC United States 20594 - Publication Date: 1975-2-5
Media Info
- Pagination: 36 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Crash injury research; Crash investigation; Crash reports; Crashes; Derailments; Emergency equipment; Emergency exits; Failure; Fatalities; Injuries; Lighting; Passenger transportation; Passengers; Railroad cars; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Railroads; Research; Safety
- Uncontrolled Terms: Broken rails
- Geographic Terms: Kansas
- Old TRIS Terms: Emergency lights; Passenger injuries
- Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Research; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00090565
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
- Report/Paper Numbers: NTSB-RAR-75-1
- Files: NTIS, TRIS
- Created Date: May 29 1975 12:00AM